Ghorepani - Poonhill Trek is an effortless slog in the spectacular mountain milieu, through the charming villages of Ghandruk and Ulleri. Inhabited by the people of the Gurung and Magar community, these villages are embellished with the dense rhododendron forests, swarmed with birds of many species. As you advance, you can see the profound sub-tropical valleys under the canopy of Annapurna. Other than that, the boisterously poised Machhapuchhare (Fish Tail) Peak is certain to woo you. The best thing is that you don’t actually have to be trekking genius to go for this trek. Be it a novice or a person of any age group, if you are physically fit, you are all good to go. Ascending to Poon Hill (3210 m) could drive you ecstatic with the panorama of stunning landscapes around. Sipping your favorite hot chocolate, as you witness, the scintillating sight of the rising sun, kissing the creamy peaks of the mighty Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, you are definitely going to be tossed to cloud nine. That's actually the catch about Pooh Hill, you don't literally have to trudge up, in order to be rewarded with a scenic retreat.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m) Day 02: Kathmandu City Sightseeing (1400m) Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara (820m/25min)/ Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul (1010m/2hrs) & Trek from Nayapul to Tikhedhunga (1480m/4 hrs) Day 04: Trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2874m/4 - 6 hours) Day 05: Trek from Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3210m/1 hr)/ Poonhill to Ghorepani/ Ghorepani to Tadapani (2630m/6 hrs) Day 06: Trek from Tadapani to Ghandruk (1940m/3 hrs) Day 07: Trek from Ghandruk to Tolka (1700m/3 hrs) Day 08: Trek from Tolka to Phedi (1130m/4 hrs) and drive from Phedi to Pokhara (830m/1hr) Day 09: Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu (1400m/25min) Day 10: Final departure to your homeland!! |
The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and then transferred to your designated hotel. Once at the hotel, you are greeted with welcome drinks. We will then have a quick pre-trip meeting, where you are briefed on the trekking itineraries and some formalities that ought to be pursued. Depending on the time remaining, you can either rest or stroll around the vicinity of your hotel to get the feel of this busy, colorful and energetic capital of Nepal. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.
Day 02: Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)
Let’s savor the succulent breakfast and get ready for a guided tour to the historic, religious and cultural sites of Kathmandu. Hop in to our transport vehicle with an experienced city guide and drive through the hullabaloo of Kathmandu. Our guide will be taking you to visit the renowned sites listed in the UNESCO world’s heritage list- the Pasupatinath Temple (the most revered Hindu shrine), Boudhanath (the Maha Stupa) and Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square. After this interesting and informative tour, we drive back to the hotel. You can now head for shopping the trekking goodies. Most of the items are available on rent. Your guide can be helpful in identifying the best rental outlet. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara (820m/25min)/ Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul (1010m/2 hrs) & Trek from Nayapul to Tikhedhunga (1480m/4 hrs)
We take a morning flight to Pokhara. Relishing the mindboggling panorama of the Himalayas and verdant stretches of fields underneath from the aircraft, we land at Pokhara in about 25 minutes. We then hop in to a private car and drive to Nayapul, which takes about 2 hrs. from here that our trek actually commences.The trail follows the main street of Birethanti, going through bamboo forests, past a large waterfall and swimming hole. Beyond a pasture used by pony caravans, the trail reaches Sudami where we halt for lunch. After lunch, we climb steadily up the side of the valley, passing by Hile until we arrive at Tikhedhunga. Overnight at teahouse in Tikhedhunga; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 04: Trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2874m/4 - 6 hours)
We move ahead from Tikhedhunga crossing a stream on a suspension bridge near a camp site. The trail now ascends a steep stone staircase (which has about 3300 steps) to the large Magar village, "Ulleri" at 2080m. Above the village, the trail climbs gently through the pastures and cultivated fields. There is another campsite at about an hour’s walk above Ulleri. We cross two sparkling streams before making a short, final climb to Nangethanti, where we stop for lunch. In the winter the trail can be covered with snow. From Nangethanti, we climb all the way up to Ghorepani, which offers spectacular mountainous panorama of Dhaulagiri (8172m), Tukuche Nilgiri (6940m), Annapurna South(7219m), Annapurna I (8091m), Hiunchuli (6434m) and Tarke Kang (7069m). Overnight at teahouse in Ghorepani; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 05: Trek from Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3210m/1 hr); trek back from Poon Hill to Ghorepani; Trek from Ghorepani to Tadapani(2630m/6 hrs)
A pre-dawn ascent of about an hour to Poon Hill caters to a brilliant spectacle; an unobstructed view of sunrise over the high Himalayas. Capture the beauty of the fascinating milieu, sippping your favorite hot chocolate! After spending about 40 minutes there, we descend to Ghorepani for breakfast. Now the trek to Tadapani commences along the ridges and through pine and rhododendron forests until we arrive at Deurali. From here the descent continues towards Banthanti, and then finally to Tadapani. Overnight at teahouse in Tadapani; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 06: Trek from Tadapani to Ghandruk (1940m/3 hrs)
The trail to Ghandruk descends steeply through the forests. Since we arrive at the village at mid noon, we have a whole lot of time to explore this mazy settlement. Overnight at teahouse in Ghandruk; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 07: Trek from Ghandruk to Tolka (1700m/3 hrs)
After breakfast, we visit the Annapurna Conservation Office and a museum nearby. We then continue towards our onward destination, Tokla. The trails descends from Ghandruk, crossing the Modi River through a suspension bridge. We then climb up a stone staircase to Landruk, a Gurung village at 1620 meters and pass by some strange oval-shaped houses before ascending on a long stoney trail to Tolka. Overnight at teahouse in Tokla; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 08: Trek from Tolka to Phedi (1130m/4 hrs) and drive from Phedi to Pokhara (820m/1 hr)
We begin the day's trek with a steep ascent to the settlement of "Deurali" poised atop a hill at 2150m. It is to be noted that this is a different village from the one we passed on day 4, although they both have the same name. From here, we descend on a stone paved trail to the village of "Pothana" (1890m), before we eventually get to "Phedi" (1130m) before noon. We hop in to our private car and drive back to Pokhara. There is still a hefty amount of time available to exlpore the lake city. We can head on to visit the Fewa Lake, Rupa Lake, Barahi Temple and Gupteswor Cave and Davis Fall, which are some of the major tourist attractions in Pokhara. In the evening you can try the food in one of the catchy restaurants nearby. Overnight at hotel in Pokhara; breakfast included.
Day 09: Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu (1400m/25min)
Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu is outstandingly scenic. Generally, we take a morning flight, as weather could be capricious in the afternoon. Once you land at the domestic wing of the Kathmandu airport, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and then transferred to your hotel. You still have a whole chunk of the day remaining. So you can make the best use of time going in for a shopping souvenirs. Thamel is the tourists’ shopping stop. It’s your last night in Nepal, and we want it to be memorable. In the evening, Marron Treks will host a farewell dinner featuring a range of delicious Nepali cuisines and a cultural program. You’ve toiled hard during the trek, so we want you to enjoy even harder tonight. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.
Day 10: Final departure to your homeland!!
A representative from Marron Treks will escort you to the airport for your final departure. Have a safe flight back home and we look forward to being your adventure companion in Nepal again.
You can always extend your trip to try out some of our other adventurous packages like Bungy Jumping, Mountain Biking, Jungle Safari, White Water Rafting, Golfing & Paragliding. Please let us know about your desire for trip extension so that we can make the necessary arrangements.
The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.
Accommodation
During your stay in Kathmandu, we will accommodate you in 3 star or 5 star hotels like Hotel Royal Singhi (3 star), Hotel Manaslu (3 star), Radisson (5 star), Yak & Yeti (5 star) or similar in Kathmandu City. While in Pokhara City, we accomodate you in 3 star or 5 star hotels like Base Camp Resort (3 Star), Mt. Kailash (3 star) , Fishtail Lodge (5 star) , Shangrila Village (5 star) or similar.
Along the trekking routes, there are many Tea Houses/ Lodges that provide good services. We will ensure that you get the best of the services available so that you enjoy every bit of your trek.
Meals
We arrange the best quality food during the trek as we are concerned about the health of the trekkers as well as the staff members. Generally, we opt for locally available food in the Annapurna Region so that you could get a real sense of the culture, living patterns, simultaneously promoting the locally available resources of organic food and beverages. Other than that, a wide range of Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisines like Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries, Soups, Breads etc are also available for your retreat.
Porter and Staff Care
We ensure that all the porters and other staffs going to high altitude conditions are provided with adequate clothing and equipments. They are the backbones of a trek.
Best Months
January - May & September - December are considered to be the best for this trek.
Any Experience Required ?
No former experience required. Physical fitness is the only key to accomplish this trek.
Difficulties
Although this is a trek of a medium grade, a person of any age group, who is physically fit, can opt of it.
Our Guides
Guides play a very active role during the trek. Marron Treks has experienced and helpful treking guides who make your trip enjoyable as well as productive. Our guides are literate, multilingual speakers, environment conscious and well acquainted to culture, language, location and every single detail pertaining to the Annapurna Region . This would help our trekkers make the most of their trip.
Travel Insurance
It is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure that your insurance covers you for both medical and evacuation costs. In some places it is not necessary but it would be better if you have the travel insurance with you all the time. That would make your trip safe and hassle free.
For more queries, visit our FAQ section or contact us directly at marketing@marrontreks.com
Starting Price: USD XXXX (On request) on twin sharing accommodation basis.
For other special requirements or bigger group deals, kindly mail us directly at: marketing@marrontreks.com
Cost Includes
Cost Excludes
TREKKING GEARS & EQUIPMENTS
Needless to say that kitting and stuffing yourself out for a trek is almost a herculean task which keeps you mulling and often gets you overwhelmed. But at the mercy of the renting outlets sprouting in every visible corner in Kathmandu, preparing for trekking in Nepal these days is almost tantamount to equipping yourself for a weekend backpacking trip. Most of the heavy and expensive items are easily available on rent, so you don’t actually have to travel Nepal with a cartload of gears. We have endeavored to formulate a categorical checklist that gives you a tentative idea regarding the gears and accessories mandatory for you during the trek. The list could vary depending upon the kind of trek you pursue, the terrain, weather conditions and time of the year. For instance, you don’t need the camp-trek equipments when you are on a tea-house trek. This listing below simply serves as a guideline and you can always have your own checklist. It is always preferable to pack light and the key to this is to carry the gears and accessories that have multidimensional uses.
CLOTHING (Core & Lower body)
Water-proof (breathable fabric) jacket, Poncho or Umbrella
Hard shell pants (breathable fabric- 1 set), preferably that zips from top and bottom which can be worn over boots without getting undressed, in case of abrupt weather changes
Fleece jacket or Pullover
Fleece windcheater jacket
Down jacket or a Down vest
T-shirts (2 – 3) and Long-sleeved shirts with collars ( 2- 3 pairs)
Nylon (cotton ought to be strictly avoided) hiking shorts ( 2- 3 pairs)
Hiking trousers- one that is detachable from the knees so that the it can be folded up as shorts ( 2- 3 pairs)
Thermal underwear as well as synthetic underwear (3 -4 each – avoid cotton)
Synthetic sport brassieres for women (2 pairs- avoid cotton)
Head/Eyes & Hand Gears
Sun hat/cap
Woolen hat or Balaclava
Sunglasses/Goggles (preferably the one with 100% UV protection)
Liner, Synthetic or Thin wool gloves (1 -2 pair)
Warm gloves (designed to the shield the sub-zero temperatures)- 1 pair
Footwear
Trekking boots (1 pair) and spare laces
Running shoes, Sandals or Thongs (flip-flops)- 1 pair each
Hiking gaiters (1 pair) to do away the rocks, dusts and moist feet
Liner socks- preferably synthetic (3 – 4 pairs)
Heavy or wool blend socks (3 – 4 pairs)
Equipments
Backpack/Rucksack
Duffle bag (will be provided by Marron Treks as a complimentary gear and you needn't return it )
Pack cover (to protect your gears from getting wet)
Day sack/Nylon stuff sack
Sleeping Bag/ Silk liner (will be provided by Marron Treks but should be returned after the trip)
Water bottle
Good head torch along with spare batteries and bulbs
Maps, compass and a guide book
Trekking poles
Miscellaneous Bits
The items below could seem trivial, but if you don’t have them, you might just find
yourself sticky and stinky, which isn’t actually good for you!
Toiletries
Quick-drying camp towel
Detergent powder/bar
Toilet paper
Sunscreen Lotion (SPF 20+) & Lip balm
Pocket knife
Sewing/Repair Kit (for tent & mattress)
Emergency kit including a whistle, waterproof match/lighter
Padlocks for bags and lodge rooms
Stuff sacks
Earplugs
Candlesticks
Medicaments
It is important that you can include the medicines prescribed by your doctor. Below is just the generic list of medications. We advice you to always consult your travel doctor as you might be resistant or allergic to some medicines
Anesthetics (Ibuprofen/Aspirin)
Broad spectrum antibiotics tablets
Metronidazole and Antacids (for diarrohea /indigestion)
Broad spectrum ointments (Neosporin/ Clotrimazole/Gentamicin)
Antiseptic liquids (Dettol/Savlon)
Assorted band-aids
Small gauge pad
Roll of adhesive tape
Iodine tablets
Optional Carry
Nothing hard and fast about carrying the items in this list as they are not the basics. Yet, though not all, if you still manage to squeeze in some of these items on your carry, you will not regret as they might just come handy during the trek
Camera, memory card and battery charger
GPS unit Altimeters
Binoculars
Pee bottle for men (leak proof/wide mouth) & Pee funnel for women
Books and magazines
Marron Treks has calibrated fixed departure dates for all the trek packages. We operate group as well as individual/private treks. Please pick the most palpable date for you and book your trip now. If the dates below don’t fit your schedule, kindly contact us directly and let us know about your preference.